Andoharanomaitso Rural Municipality
Andoharanomaitso Rural Municipality
Andoharanomaisto is located 27 kilometers from Fianarantsoa, in the Haute Matsiatra region. The municipality joined the Center of Excellence project in 2010. With 29,906 inhabitants, an area of 248 km², and 23 fokontany (villages), the municipality has 27 public primary schools, four middle schools, and one high school. The main economic activities of the population are agriculture and livestock farming. The municipality, where two major wine factories (Lazan'ny Betsileo, Clo Malaza) are located, is known throughout the country for its wine production. Women's associations in the municipality are very active. Their activities revolve around livestock farming and honey production.
Introduction
Before becoming a Gender Links (GL) center of excellence, the majority of the municipality's staff were men. Male entrepreneurs monopolized the public procurement sector. Women, on the other hand, participated little in public life (community meetings), were dependent on their husbands (a woman waits for a husband to provide for her), and some men even forbade their wives from leaving the house, which led to an increase in acts of violence.
The implementation of the partnership agreement between the municipality and GL encouraged the municipality to integrate a gender approach into municipal policy. By integrating a gender approach at the institutional level, leaders aimed to encourage women to become economic agents, financially independent, and to combat violence and illiteracy.
Women make up more than 50% of the population in this municipality. The majority of conflicts dealt with at the municipal level concern domestic violence. Gender mainstreaming is important in order to address women's issues in this municipality. The awareness of GL officials motivated the municipality to integrate gender into municipal policy.
